The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1887-02-11

10 Portland on either line. And henc,
desired aud voted to amend by strik-
Ing out these Objectionable, qualifying
sud, a. | believe, practically wholly
destructive words.
But a moments consideration will
show how useless and impotent is this
bill in its present shape TO relieve ship
pera Ia Middle and Southern Oregon at
Don-cempstipg points from Eugene City
to Ashland, inclnsive,on the line of the
Oregon and California Railroad. When
the Oregon and California, and Californ-
Ii and Oregon lines are connected we
will have through line by rail hetween
Portland and San Francisco. Through
ffeights ovsr tkis line either way will
necessarily be sery low, from lhe fact
that such transportation 10 brought in
direct composition with-a lioe Of steam
ers end sailing vessels running between
lheas two ports. to say nothing cf the
linss Of steamers 10 Ysquina aud Coos
Bay. Suppose, therefore, through
freights on ihs. line either war that is,
between iSan Fraacisco and Poillsnd,
should be, say four dollars per too,i is
now by sailing vessels, believe, about
that. and by steamers ak or eight dol
lars per ton on merchandise by measure.
mcnt and suppose the railroad con-
psny would charge six dollars per ton
for hauling ton Of freight frou Port
land TO Eagane City, eight dollars to
Springfield, ten dollars 70 Roeeburg,
twelve dollars to Riddles, sixteen Jsl.
lars to Medford, and t~esty dollars. TO
Ashland, the 6rst Of which 10 Eagsnr)
would be one third more than Tor tbs
long haul from Portland 20 San Fran
cisco, whils the last (twenty dollars 10
Ashlandj would, for these $40 mites, or
about ons-half the whole distance 10
San Francisco, be five times more than
the charge for the long distance Of over
100 miles between Portland and San
Ffaneisco and il i quite probable sha,
something like this will be the resal,
when the road Is completed unless
Otherwise regulated by Law.
10 such an event, therefore, would,
inquire,.hs provisions of .hi. Interstate
Commerce Bill prohibit the railroad
company from making thsss several
higher rates Tor these several shorter
hauls than are charged for the longer
haul between Portland and San Fran
cisco J | imagine not, f,r the simple
rsason that the lo.g haul i. subject to
the sharp composition by sec and there
fore The railroad company may for this
reason he forced TO put through rates at
an extremely Low fignre,in order 20 ct
any bnsiness as against ocean trsnspor.
tasion ard, therefore. Il is that the
transportation over the long haul IL
not, aud would not ne 10 such a caae,
''undey sHbstantialiy simi'ar circuns-
stances and conditions" as that on any
of the short hanls named. ADD thCf.
the circumstances and conditons' being
entirely dissimiiar. the bill by its ex-
prass term DOES no., in my ind msns as
IL stands, inhibit a greater charge for
the short than for the long haul Had
my amendment beeo agreed 70, and
these six Objectionable words stricken
from the bill, then It would clearly pre-
vent such charges. Should diffsren.
construction, howeve-, be given to this
section by the courts ~ /. stand, I ahall
be happily disappointed. Were it not
that gave public aud emphltic express
sion TO theao vie vs il the Senate when
this bill was under discussion, should
hesitate now to express them, as do
not wish 10 see the bill, should it become
law brought into discredit ia advance,
bnt. on the co-srary, hope it ma, have
fair trial aud should its practical
workings prove satisfactory to the great
interests IL Il iote1dod to protect, all
well and II, on the contrary, found de-
feotive in its application 20 the business
of the country, further legislation may
supply the defects. Possibly faie test
may demonstrate TO all that il il not,
after all, wise to insert long-and-short.
haci provision of any character IN legis-
lation upon the subject Of interstate
commerce and again it may be seen
that much moro stringent measure 90
this subject than that contained in thi |
bill is both wise and imperative.
That some adequate notion may b.
had Of the estimate placed on this bill
by prominent members Of each House
who desired the bill amended to make
1t certain and effective, | beg 70 quote
the following extract from speech
made in the House of Representative.
January 10Th. IN discussing the report
Of the Conference Committee, by Repre-
sentative Weaver, of Iowa, who is uni.
versaIly recognized as firm and enthu'
siastic supporter Of the rights Of tbs
people against the enc,oachments oi
corporate power, and who was warm